U.S. patent application number 14/651691 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for outdoor unit for air-conditioning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Hiroaki NAKAMUNE, Kenichi SAKODA, Takamasa UEMURA, Susumu YOSHIMURA. Invention is credited to Hiroaki NAKAMUNE, Kenichi SAKODA, Takamasa UEMURA, Susumu YOSHIMURA.
Application Number | 20150316277 14/651691 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50933852 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150316277 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
UEMURA; Takamasa ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
OUTDOOR UNIT FOR AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS
Abstract
An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes at
least a heat exchanger, a fan, a compressor, and a box-like casing
housing these components and having an air inlet and an air outlet.
The compressor is arranged at a location other than an air passage
in which air having flowed in through the air inlet flows through
the heat exchanger and the fan to the air outlet. The heat
exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange portions, and these
heat exchange portions are arranged in a zigzag shape.
Inventors: |
UEMURA; Takamasa;
(Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; YOSHIMURA; Susumu;
(Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; NAKAMUNE; Hiroaki;
(Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; SAKODA; Kenichi;
(Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UEMURA; Takamasa
YOSHIMURA; Susumu
NAKAMUNE; Hiroaki
SAKODA; Kenichi |
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
50933852 |
Appl. No.: |
14/651691 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
December 12, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/007920 |
371 Date: |
June 12, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/426 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 5/001 20130101;
F24F 1/18 20130101; F24F 1/38 20130101; F24F 1/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 5/00 20060101
F24F005/00 |
Claims
1. An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, the outdoor
unit comprising: a heat exchanger; a fan; a compressor; and a
box-like casing housing the heat exchanger, the fan, the
compressor, the box-like casing having an air inlet and an air
outlet, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat
exchange portions arranged in an air passage formed between the air
inlet and the air outlet, and the heat exchanger has at least three
bend portions to have a zigzag shape, and the fan and the heat
exchanger are opposed to each other in a horizontal direction, and
the plurality of heat exchange portions are arranged in a zigzag
shape along a vertical direction, and the heat exchange portions,
located at an uppermost portion thereof and a lowermost portion
thereof, of the plurality of heat exchange portions, are arranged
perpendicularly to an air suction direction.
2. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein a projection portion of the zigzag shape is located at a
portion opposed to the fan.
3-4. (canceled)
5. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein each of the heat exchange portions located at the uppermost
portion and the lowermost portion is formed in an L shape in which
one portion thereof extends in a vertical direction and an other
portion thereof bends in the air suction direction or in an air
blowout direction.
6. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein an uppermost end portion of one, located at the uppermost
portion, of the heat exchange portions, and a lowermost end portion
of another one, located at the lowermost portion, of the plurality
of heat exchange portions, are arranged at a downstream side of
other portions of the heat exchange portions in an air flow
direction.
7. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the fan includes a plurality of vanes, a boss, and a motor,
and the motor is provided within the boss.
8. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the fan includes a plurality of vanes, a boss, and a motor,
and an outer peripheral ring is formed at outer peripheral portions
of the vanes and connects the adjacent one of the vanes.
9. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the fan includes a plurality of vanes, a boss, and a motor,
and an intermediate ring is formed between outer peripheral
portions of the vanes and the boss and connects adjacent ones of
the vanes.
10. The outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 9,
wherein a height position of the intermediate ring and a height
position of the bend portion of the heat exchanger coincide with
each other.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit for an
air-conditioning apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An existing outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus
includes components such as a heat exchanger, a fan, and a
compressor, and a box-like casing which houses these components.
The outdoor unit circulates refrigerant between the outdoor unit
and an indoor unit connected thereto via a pipe and causes the
refrigerant and air flowing through the heat exchanger to reject
heat or remove heat therebetween, thereby cooling or heating a
room. For such an existing outdoor unit for an air-conditioning
apparatus, as a structure which improves the performance of an
air-conditioning apparatus by increasing heat-rejecting efficiency
or heat-removing efficiency, a structure has been proposed in which
in order that two surfaces of a box-like casing can be utilized, a
heat exchanger is arranged in an L shape along the two surfaces, or
a structure has been proposed in which in order that three surfaces
of a box-like casing can be utilized, a heat exchanger is arranged
in substantially a U shape along the three surfaces by modifying
the arrangement of a compressor (e.g., see Patent Literature
1).
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2006-57864 ([0012], [0020], FIG. 1, and FIG. 3)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] As for the existing outdoor unit for an air-conditioning
apparatus, as one method for further improving the performance
without increasing the unit size, it is conceivable to arrange a
heat exchanger along a top plate or bottom plate surface. However,
such a methodentails limitations in installation of the outdoor
unit, for example, it is necessary to provide a sufficient space
for suction near the top plate or bottom plate surface. In
addition, a decrease in productivity such as complication of
assembling is caused. Moreover, since a space in which the heat
exchanger can be arranged is limited as described above, there is a
limitation on an increase in the mounting volume of the heat
exchanger.
[0005] As for the existing outdoor unit for an air-conditioning
apparatus, as another method for further improving the performance
without increasing the unit size, it is also conceivable to form a
heat exchanger such that the heat exchanger is thick in an air flow
direction. However, in such a method, the temperature difference
between air and refrigerant is decreased at a more downstream side
of air. Thus, improvement in the heat exchange performance is
saturated with an increase in thickness. Furthermore, since air
flow resistance, that is, fan input increases substantially in
proportion to the thickness of the heat exchanger, even when the
thickness of the heat exchanger is increased to increase the
mounting volume thereof, it is not possible to expect improvement
in the performance of the outdoor unit which corresponds to the
increase in the mounting volume. Moreover, when the air volume is
increased, the above-stated decrease in the temperature difference
between the air and the refrigerant is suppressed, and the heat
exchange performance increases substantially in proportion to the
air volume. However, with increase in the speed of air flowing
through the heat exchanger, the air flow resistance, that is, the
fan input increases more than this, and thus it is not possible to
efficiently improve the performance of the outdoor unit.
[0006] As described above, the existing outdoor unit for an
air-conditioning apparatus has a problem in that the unit size has
to be increased in order to cause the heat exchanger to efficiently
operate to improve the performance of the outdoor unit.
[0007] The present invention has been made in order to solve the
above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is
to obtain an outdoor unit which increases a mounting volume of a
heat exchanger without increasing a unit size, to achieve both
improvement in heat exchange performance and suppression of an
increase in air flow resistance to allow the performance to be
efficiently improved.
Solution to Problem
[0008] An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according
to the present invention includes a heat exchanger; a fan; a
compressor; and a box-like casing housing the heat exchanger, the
fan, the compressor, the box-like casing having an air inlet and an
air outlet, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat
exchange portions arranged in an air passage formed between the air
inlet and the air outlet, and the heat exchanger has a zigzag shape
including at least three bend portions.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009] In the outdoor unit according to the present invention,
since the heat exchanger housed in the casing includes the
plurality of heat exchange portions and the heat exchange portions
are arranged in a zigzag shape, it is possible to increase the
volume of the heat exchanger without increasing the unit size. In
addition, since the heat exchanger is mounted in the casing in
order to increase a suction area thereof, both an increase in the
heat exchange performance and a reduction in fan input which is
caused by a decrease in air flow resistance are achieved, and even
when an air volume is increased, it is possible to improve the heat
exchange performance while an increase in air flow resistance, that
is, an increase in fan input is suppressed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a
line A-A in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another
example of the outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing still
another example of the outdoor unit for an air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of
the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a
line B-B in FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another
example of the outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of
the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a
line C-C in FIG. 8.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another
example of the outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a
line D-D in FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0022] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit 50 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1
of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional
view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic
cross-sectional view showing another example of the outdoor unit 50
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view
showing still another example of the outdoor unit 50 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. It should be noted that outline arrows shown in FIG. 2
indicate flow of air flowing through the outdoor unit 50.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 50 includes a box-like
casing 1 having an air inlet 6 and an air outlet 2.
[0024] The casing 1 includes, for example, a base plate 1a which is
a bottom portion, a front panel 1b which forms a front portion and
has the air outlet 2, a side panel 1c which forms a side portion
and a rear portion other than a range that serves as the air inlet
6, and a top plate 1d which forms a top portion. Within the casing
1, a heat exchanger 7 and a compressor 9 are fixed on the base
plate 1a, and a fan 4 is mounted via a stay. The fan 4 is opposed
to the air outlet 2, and a bell mouth 3 is provided at an outer
peripheral portion of the air outlet 2 so as to surround an outer
peripheral portion of the fan 4. Within the casing 1, an air
passage is formed in which air having flowed in through the air
inlet 6 flows through the heat exchanger 7 and the fan 4 to the air
outlet 2 by the fan 4 being driven. The compressor 9 is fixed to a
portion other than the air passage. In Embodiment 1, the interior
of the casing 1 is partitioned by a partition plate 8 into a
machine chamber 10 in which the compressor 9 is provided and the
air passage in which the heat exchanger 7 and the fan 4 are
provided.
[0025] The fan 4 is an axial flow fan and includes a boss 4b, a
plurality of vanes 4a provided at an outer peripheral portion of
the boss 4b, and a fan motor 5 which rotates the boss 4b and the
vanes 4a about the center of the boss 4b as a rotation axis. In
Embodiment 1, the thicknesses of the vanes 4a in a rotation axis
direction are decreased by reducing the vane width or increasing
the number of the vanes. In addition, although not shown, the fan
motor 5 is provided within the boss 4b. Thus, motor sound is
blocked (noise is reduced), and a space in the outdoor unit is
ensured (the performance is improved by an increase in heat
exchange volume or the cost is reduced by a decrease in the
thickness of the outdoor unit).
[0026] Next, an operation of the outdoor unit 50 according to
Embodiment 1 will be described.
[0027] As indicated by the outline arrows in FIG. 2, flow of air
generated with the fan 4 enters through the air inlet 6 into the
air passage formed by the base plate 1a, the front panel 1b, the
side panel 1c, and the top plate 1d, and is discharged through the
air outlet 2. That is, by the fan 4 being driven, air near the
outdoor unit 50 flows through the air inlet 6 into the air passage,
flows through between fins 71 of the heat exchanger 7 arranged
within the air passage, and is discharged through the air outlet 2.
The air flowing through between the fins 71 of the heat exchanger 7
exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 7.
[0028] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 7 is divided
into four heat exchange portions (heat exchange portions 7a, 7b,
7c, and 7d), and these heat exchange portions 7a to 7d are aligned
in a vertical direction and arranged in a zigzag shape. That is,
the heat exchanger 7 according to Embodiment 1 has three bend
portions (portions at which end portions of the heat exchange
portions are connected to each other). The heat exchanger 7, that
is, the heat exchange portions 7a to 7d include the fins 71 and
heat-transfer pipes 72. The fins 71 are stacked in a horizontal
direction at regular intervals such that gaps through which air
flows are formed.
[0029] Here, the "vertical direction" described in Embodiment 1
does not indicate a direction which strictly agrees with the
direction of gravity and may be slightly inclined from the
direction of gravity. That is, additionally, the "vertical
direction" described in Embodiment 1 indicates substantially the
vertical direction. In addition, the "horizontal direction"
described in Embodiment 1 does not indicate a direction which
strictly agrees with a direction which perpendicularly intersects
the direction of gravity, and may be slightly inclined from the
direction which perpendicularly intersects the direction of
gravity. That is, additionally, the "horizontal direction"
described in Embodiment 1 indicates substantially the horizontal
direction.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchange portion 7a located at
the uppermost portion of the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 1 and the heat exchange portion 7d located at the
lowermost portion of the heat exchanger 7 are arranged
perpendicularly to an air suction direction in which air is sucked
through the air inlet 6 in the outdoor unit 50, as seen from the
outline arrows in FIG. 2. Thus, the resistance applied to air
flowing through the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange
portion 7d is reduced, and the air easily passes through the heat
exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7d. As a result,
it is possible to keep a wind speed distribution in the heat
exchanger 7 uniform.
[0031] In Embodiment 1, the number of bends in the heat exchanger 7
(i.e., the number of connection portions between the heat exchange
portions constituting the heat exchanger 7) is three, but is not
limited to this number. For example, the number of bends in the
heat exchanger 7 may be four or more as shown in FIG. 3. In
addition, the number of the heat exchange portions of the heat
exchanger 7 that are arranged obliquely with respect to the air
suction direction is also not limited. In this case, the air flow
resistance is also increased, and thus it is better to
appropriately select specifications of the heat exchanger 7 such as
thinning the heat exchanger 7.
[0032] As described above, the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 1 includes the heat exchange portion 7a at the uppermost
portion and the heat exchange portion 7d at the lowermost portion
which are arranged perpendicularly to the air suction direction,
and the two heat exchange portions 7b and 7c which are arranged
obliquely with respect to the air suction direction. That is, this
structure is a structure in which bends at the uppermost portion
and the lowermost portion of the heat exchanger 7 are omitted in
the case where the number of bends in the heat exchanger 7 is four
or more and all heat exchange portions are arranged obliquely with
respect to the air suction direction. In the outdoor unit 50
configured in Embodiment 1, it is possible to increase the mounting
volume of the heat exchanger 7 while a decrease in the heat
exchange performance of the heat exchanger 7 due to the wind speed
distribution is suppressed. In addition, since each heat exchange
portion constituting the heat exchanger 7 is arranged in a zigzag
shape, it is possible to ensure a sufficiently large suction area
of the heat exchanger 7. Thus, it is possible to decrease the speed
of air flowing through the heat exchanger 7 to reduce the air flow
resistance of the heat exchanger 7, that is, fan input. In
addition, even when the air volume is increased in response to an
increase in the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7, the air
flow area of the heat exchanger 7 is also increased at the same
time, and thus an increase in the speed of air flowing through the
heat exchanger 7 is suppressed, and it is possible to efficiently
improve the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 7
without causing an increase in air flow resistance.
[0033] In addition, as shown by the outline arrows in FIG. 2, in
the outdoor unit 50 according to Embodiment 1, air sucked through
the air inlet 6 substantially linearly flows through the air
passage and is discharged through the fan 4. Thus, pressure loss
caused by bending, expansion/contraction, or the like of air, that
is, so-called form loss is low, most of the pressure loss within
the air passage is caused when air flows through the heat
exchanger, and thus it is possible to reduce the fan input.
Moreover, in the outdoor unit 50 according to Embodiment 1, an
inflow condition suitable for the axial flow fan that is a
condition that air flows substantially parallel to the rotation
axis of the fan 4 is established, and thus the fan efficiency
improves. Therefore, less disturbed flow enters into the fan 4
while the fan input is reduced, and hence it is also possible to
reduce noise.
[0034] In Embodiment 1, the single fan 4 is used, but in the case
of increasing the air volume in accordance with an increase in the
mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7, a plurality of fans 4 may
be used. For example, two fans 4 may be arranged such that a
position near the connection portion between the heat exchange
portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7b (the bend portion
between the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange portion
7b) and a position near the connection portion between the heat
exchange portion 7c and the heat exchange portion 7d (the bend
portion between the heat exchange portion 7c and the heat exchange
portion 7d) are central positions of the fans 4.
[0035] However, in Embodiment 1, a predetermined air volume is
generated with the single fan 4 whose vane diameter is increased.
This is because, by generating the predetermined air volume with
the single fan 4 whose vane diameter is increased, it is possible
to efficiently operate the fan 4 at a relatively low rotation speed
and it is possible to reduce noise. As described above, since many
heat exchange portions are arranged in a zigzag shape in a range
opposed to the single fan 4, that is, since many bend portions are
arranged in the range opposed to the single fan 4, it is possible
to increase the volume of the heat exchanger with respect to the
single fan 4. Thus, it is possible to improve the heat exchange
performance without increasing the air flow resistance, that is,
the fan input, and it is also possible to improve the efficiency of
the fan 4 and reduce noise.
[0036] In addition, in Embodiment 1, each heat exchange portion is
arranged such that the connection portion between the heat exchange
portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7b and the connection
portion between the heat exchange portion 7c and the heat exchange
portion 7d are close to the air inlet 6, but the arrangement of
these heat exchange portions is not limited to this arrangement.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 7 may be
inverted along the air flow direction, and each heat exchange
portion may be arranged such that the connection portion between
the heat exchange portion 7b and the heat exchange portion 7c is
close to the air inlet 6.
[0037] As described above, in the outdoor unit 50 according to
Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 7 provided within the casing 1
includes a plurality of heat exchange portions, and these heat
exchange portions are arranged in a zigzag shape. Thus, it is
possible to increase the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7
without increasing the unit size. In addition, since the heat
exchange portion located at the uppermost portion of the heat
exchanger 7 and the heat exchanger located at the lowermost portion
of the heat exchanger 7 are arranged perpendicularly to the air
inflow direction, and the resistance of air passing therethrough is
reduced. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the heat
exchange performance of the heat exchanger 7 which is caused due to
a wind speed distribution. Moreover, since the heat exchanger 7 is
mounted such that the air flow area thereof is increased, both an
increase in the heat exchange performance and a reduction in the
air flow resistance (i.e., the fan input) are achieved.
Furthermore, even when the air volume is increased, while the wind
speed distribution in the heat exchanger 7 is kept uniform, it is
possible to suppress an increase in the air flow resistance and
improve the heat exchange performance.
[0038] In addition, when an existing outdoor unit in which a heat
exchanger is arranged along a side surface of a casing and the
outdoor unit 50 according to Embodiment 1 in which the heat
exchanger 7 is formed in a zigzag shape are compared to each other,
the following advantageous effects are provided. It should be noted
that hereinafter, the volume of the heat exchanger is defined as "a
stacking length (the distance between fins arranged at both end
portions in a direction in which the fins are stacked).times."the
longitudinal length of the fin".times."the lateral length of the
fin". In the case of a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat
exchange portions as in the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 1, the sum of the volumes of the respective heat
exchange portions is defined as the volume of the heat exchanger
7.
[0039] When it is assumed that the unit size of the existing
outdoor unit and the unit size of the outdoor unit 50 according to
Embodiment 1 are the same and the volumes of the heat exchangers
provided in both outdoor units are the same, the outdoor unit 50
according to Embodiment 1 can have a larger stacking length (i.e.,
the sum of the stacking lengths of the respective heat exchange
portions) of the heat exchanger 7 than that in the existing outdoor
unit, it is possible to decrease the lateral length of each fin 71
(i.e., the thickness of the heat exchanger 7). In addition, the
lateral length of each fin and the number of rows of heat-transfer
pipes arranged along the lateral direction of the fin have a
correspondence relation. Thus, when it is assumed that the unit
size of the existing outdoor unit and the unit size of the outdoor
unit 50 according to Embodiment 1 are the same and the volumes of
the heat exchangers provided in both outdoor units are the same, it
is possible to decrease the number of the heat-transfer pipes 72 in
the outdoor unit 50 according to Embodiment 1.
[0040] That is, as compared to the existing outdoor unit, the
outdoor unit 50 according to Embodiment 1 allows the heat exchanger
7 to efficiently operate, and thus it is possible to improve the
performance of the outdoor unit 50 without increasing the unit
size. In other words, as for the outdoor unit 50 according to
Embodiment 1, when an attempt is made to obtain the same
performance as that of the existing outdoor unit, it is possible to
decrease the volume of the heat exchanger 7 by an amount
corresponding to the improvement of the performance, and thus it is
possible to reduce the cost.
Embodiment 2
[0041] In the outdoor unit 50 shown in Embodiment 1, for example,
by providing a heat exchanger 7 configured as follows in the casing
1, it is possible to further increase the mounting volume of the
heat exchanger 7 while a decrease in the heat exchange performance
of the heat exchanger 7 which is caused due to the wind speed
distribution is suppressed. It should be noted that the matters
which are not particularly described in Embodiment 2 are the same
as in Embodiment 1, and the same functions or components are
described with the same reference signs.
[0042] FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit 50 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2
of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 6 is a schematic
cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a
schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the
outdoor unit 50 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 2 is divided into four heat exchange portions (heat
exchange portions 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d), and these heat exchange
portions 7a to 7d are aligned in the vertical direction. The heat
exchanger 7 has three bend portions (portions at which end portions
of the heat exchange portions are connected to each other), and the
heat exchange portions 7a to 7d are arranged in a zigzag shape. The
heat exchanger 7, that is, the heat exchange portions 7a to 7d
include fins 71 and heat-transfer pipes 72. The fins 71 are stacked
in the horizontal direction at regular intervals such that gaps
through which air flows are formed.
[0044] The heat exchanger 7 according to Embodiment 2 is structured
such that the heat exchange portion 7a at the uppermost portion and
the heat exchange portion 7d at the lowermost portion which are
arranged perpendicularly to the air inflow direction in the
Embodiment 1 are arranged in a zigzag shape, and allows the
mounting volumes of the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat
exchange portion 7d to be increased as compared to the case where
these heat exchange portions are arranged perpendicularly to the
air suction direction. Thus, in the outdoor unit 50 configured in
Embodiment 2, similarly to Embodiment 1, it is possible to increase
the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7 while a decrease in the
heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 7 which is caused
due to the wind speed distribution is suppressed, as compared to
the existing outdoor unit in which a heat exchanger is arranged
along a side surface of a casing. In addition, it is possible to
further increase the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7 as
compared to Embodiment 1. Moreover, even when the air volume is
increased in response to an increase in the mounting volume of the
heat exchanger 7, the air flow area of the heat exchanger 7 is also
increased at the same time, and thus an increase in the speed of
air flowing through the heat exchanger 7 is suppressed, and it is
possible to efficiently improve the heat exchange performance of
the heat exchanger 7 without causing an increase in air flow
resistance.
[0045] In Embodiment 2, the number of bends in the heat exchanger 7
(i.e., the number of connection portions between the heat exchange
portions constituting the heat exchanger 7) is three, but is not
limited to this number. For example, the number of bends in the
heat exchanger 7 may be four or more. In addition, the number of
the heat exchange portions of the heat exchanger 7 that are
arranged in a zigzag shape is also not limited. In this case, the
air flow resistance is also increased, and thus it is better to
appropriately select specifications of the heat exchanger 7 such as
thinning the heat exchanger 7.
[0046] In addition, in Embodiment 2, each heat exchange portion is
arranged in a zigzag shape such that the connection portion between
the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7b and
the connection portion between the heat exchange portions 7c and 7d
are close to the air inlet 6, but the arrangement of these heat
exchange portions is not limited to this arrangement. For example,
as shown in FIG. 7, the heat exchanger 7 may be inverted along the
air flow direction, and each heat exchange portion may be arranged
in a zigzag shape such that the connection portion between the heat
exchange portion 7b and the heat exchange portion 7c is close to
the air inlet 6.
Embodiment 3
[0047] In the outdoor units 50 shown in Embodiments 1 and 2, for
example, by providing a heat exchanger 7 configured as follows in
the casing 1, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous
effects as shown in Embodiments 1 and 2. It should be noted that
the matters which are not particularly described in Embodiment 3
are the same as in Embodiments 1 and 2, and the same functions or
components are described with the same reference signs. FIG. 8 is
an external perspective view showing an outdoor unit 50 for an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention. In addition, FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view
taken along a line C-C in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a schematic
cross-sectional view showing another example of the outdoor unit 50
for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the
present invention.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 9, the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 3 is divided into four heat exchange portions (heat
exchange portions 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d), and these heat exchange
portions 7a to 7d are aligned in the vertical direction. The heat
exchanger 7 has three bend portions (portions at which end portions
of the heat exchange portions are connected to each other). The
heat exchanger 7, that is, the heat exchange portions 7a to 7d
include fins 71 and heat-transfer pipes 72. The fins 71 are stacked
in the horizontal direction such that gaps through which air flows
are formed.
[0049] The heat exchanger 7 according to Embodiment 3 is structured
such that each of the heat exchange portion 7a at the uppermost
portion the heat exchange portion 7d at the lowermost portion which
are arranged perpendicularly to the air inflow direction in the
Embodiment 1 is arranged so as to be bent in a substantially L
shape in which one portion thereof extends in the vertical
direction and the other portion thereof bends in the air suction
direction or air blowout direction, and allows the mounting volumes
of the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7d to
be increased as compared to the case where these heat exchange
portions are arranged perpendicularly to the air suction direction.
Thus, in the outdoor unit 50 configured in Embodiment 3, similarly
to Embodiments 1 and 2, it is possible to increase the mounting
volume of the heat exchanger 7 while a decrease in the heat
exchange performance of the heat exchanger 7 which is caused due to
the wind speed distribution is suppressed, as compared to the
existing outdoor unit. In addition, it is possible to further
increase the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7 as compared to
Embodiment 1. Moreover, even when the air volume is increased in
response to an increase in the mounting volume of the heat
exchanger 7, the air flow area of the heat exchanger 7 is also
increased at the same time, and thus an increase in the speed of
air flowing through the heat exchanger 7 is suppressed, and it is
possible to efficiently improve the heat exchange performance of
the heat exchanger 7 without causing an increase in air flow
resistance.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 9, the heat exchange portion 7a located at
the uppermost portion of the heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 3 and the heat exchange portion 7d located at the
lowermost portion of the heat exchanger 7 are arranged
perpendicularly to the air suction direction in which air is sucked
through the air inlet 6 in the outdoor unit 50. Thus, the
resistance applied to air flowing through the heat exchange portion
7a and the heat exchange portion 7d is reduced, and the air easily
passes through the heat exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange
portion 7d. As a result, it is possible to keep a wind speed
distribution in the heat exchanger 7 uniform.
[0051] In Embodiment 3, the number of bends in the heat exchanger 7
(i.e., the number of connection portions between the heat exchange
portions constituting the heat exchanger 7) is three, but is not
limited to this number. For example, the number of bends in the
heat exchanger 7 may be four or more. In addition, the number of
the heat exchange portions of the heat exchanger 7 that are
arranged in a zigzag shape is also not limited. In this case, the
air flow resistance is also increased, and thus it is better to
appropriately select specifications of the heat exchanger 7 such as
thinning the heat exchanger 7.
[0052] In addition, in Embodiment 3, each heat exchange portion is
arranged such that the connection portion between the heat exchange
portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7b and the connection
portion between the heat exchange portion 7c and the heat exchange
portion 7d are close to the air inlet 6, but the arrangement of
these heat exchange portions is not limited to this arrangement.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the heat exchanger 7 may be
inverted along the air flow direction, and each heat exchange
portion may be arranged such that the connection portion between
the heat exchange portion 7b and the heat exchange portion 7c is
close to the air inlet 6.
Embodiment 4
[0053] In the outdoor units 50 shown in Embodiments 1 to 3, for
example, a fan 4 as described below may be used. It should be noted
that the matters which are not particularly described in Embodiment
4 are the same as in Embodiments 1 to 3, and the same functions or
components are described with the same reference signs.
[0054] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing an outdoor
unit 50 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4
of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 12 is a schematic
cross-sectional view taken along a line D-D in FIG. 11.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the fan 4 according to
Embodiment 4, an intermediate ring 100 is formed at substantially
intermediate portions of the vanes 4a and connects the adjacent
vanes 4a. More specifically, the vanes 4a include inner peripheral
vanes 101 between the boss 4b and the intermediate ring 100 and
outer peripheral vanes 102 provided at the outer peripheral side of
the intermediate ring 100. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the
positions of the connection portion (bend portion) between the heat
exchange portion 7a and the heat exchange portion 7b and the
connection portion (bend portion) between the heat exchange portion
7c and the heat exchange portion 7d substantially coincide with the
position of the intermediate ring 100 in the direction in which the
heat exchange portions are aligned.
[0056] In the outdoor unit 50 configured as in Embodiment 4, the
following advantageous effects are provided in addition to the
advantageous effects shown in Embodiments 1 to 3. The fans 4 shown
in Embodiments 1 to 3 are configured such that the thickness
thereof in the rotation axis direction is decreased by decreasing
the widths of the vanes 4a and increasing the number of the vanes
4a. In Embodiment 4, the number of the outer peripheral vanes 102
is made larger than the number of the inner peripheral vanes 101 to
ensure aerodynamic performance of the fan 4. In addition, in the
fan 4 of Embodiment 4, it is possible to enhance the strength of
the base of each vane 4a by connecting the vanes 4a to each other
via the intermediate ring 100, and thus it is possible to further
decrease the widths of the vanes 4a and increase the number of the
vanes 4a. Therefore, the fan 4 shown in Embodiment 4 allows the
thickness thereof in the rotation axis direction to be decreased as
compared to the fans 4 shown in Embodiments 1 to 3.
[0057] Since the axial thicknesses of the vanes 4a of the fan 4 are
further decreased as described above, a space for mounting the heat
exchanger 7 is increased within the outdoor unit 50, and thus it is
possible to increase the mounting volume of the heat exchanger 7.
In addition, although air is relatively less likely to flow near
the bend portions (connection portions between the adjacent heat
exchange portions) of the heat exchanger 7, since the positions of
the bend portions substantially coincide with the position of the
intermediate ring 100 where there is no vanes 4a, it is possible to
prevent a decrease in the aerodynamic performance of the fan 4
which is caused due to the provision of the intermediate ring 100.
Furthermore, since air does not flow into the intermediate ring
100, an increase in noise which is caused due to disturbance by
interference between sucked air and the intermediate ring 100 does
not occur. As described above, it is possible to reduce the
thickness of the fan 4 and increase the mounting volume of the heat
exchanger 7 without causing a decrease in the aerodynamic
performance of the fan 4 and an increase in noise.
[0058] It should be noted that the example where the ring
(intermediate ring 100) is provided at substantially the
intermediate portions of the vanes 4a and connects the adjacent
vanes 4a has been shown in the above description, but as a matter
of course, a ring (outer peripheral ring 100a) may be provided at
outer peripheral portions of the vanes 4a (outer peripheral
portions of the outer peripheral vane 102) and may connect the
adjacent vanes 4a. In this case, it is possible to further enhance
the strength of the vanes 4a.
[0059] In Embodiment 4, all the bend portions (connection portions
between the heat exchange portions) of the heat exchanger 7 close
to the fan 4 are caused to substantially coincide with the position
of the intermediate ring 100 in the direction in which the heat
exchange portions are aligned. However, it is possible to obtain
the above advantageous effects by causing at least one of these
bend portions to substantially coincide with the position of the
intermediate ring 100.
[0060] In Embodiments 1 to 4 described above, the case where the
heat exchanger 7 is arranged at the windward side of the fan 4 has
been shown, but the heat exchanger 7 may be arranged at the leeward
side of the fan 4. For example, in the case of the outdoor unit 50
shown in Embodiment 1, air may be sucked from the front panel 1b
side, supplied to the heat exchanger 7 at the leeward side, and
blown out through the upper or lower surface of the outdoor unit
50. In this case, a heat transfer enhancement effect is also
obtained which is caused by collision of airflow, blown out from
the fan 4 having a high wind speed, against the heat exchanger 7,
and thus there is an effect of further improving the heat exchange
performance of the heat exchanger 7.
[0061] In Embodiments 1 to 4, the example of the present invention
has been shown with, as an example, the fan 4 including the fan
motor 5 provided within the boss 4b, but the present invention is
not limited thereto, and an external motor mounted so as to project
from the boss 4b in the rotation axis direction may be used as a
fan motor.
TABLE-US-00001 Reference Signs List 1 casing 1a base plate 1b front
panel 1c side panel 1d top plate 2 air outlet 3 bell mouth 4 fan 4a
vane 4b boss 5 fan motor 6 air inlet 7 heat exchanger 7a to 7f heat
exchange portion 8 partition plate 9 compressor 10 machine chamber
50 outdoor unit 71 fin 72 heat-transfer pipe 100 intermediate ring
100a outer peripheral ring 101 inner peripheral vane 102 outer
peripheral vane
* * * * *